If you are a student, or have recently graduated, there are many career choices within the tennis industry – you don’t just have to aim for being a pro player. There are 18 million people in America that play tennis, so there is plenty of associated work out there, you just have to put yourself forward. You can meet plenty of people that share your same passions and interests, and you get some real knowledge and understanding of how the industry works. You will also get some fantastic insights into pro tennis tournaments, and being a valued member of the tennis community.
Become An Umpire
Being an umpire is a very important role in tennis, and ideal for students and graduates. If you are working on important tournaments and matches, you can make $250 a day. This can be a beneficial source of funding for a student, and you don’t have to commit to a full time job – just take on the matches that you can make. You don’t need to have a lot of training either, you will need to apply to the Lawn Tennis Association in the UK and do a short accreditation course. In American the ITF also provides short courses for potential umpires. Don’t forget you will need to have a good, strong voice for calling out your decisions.
Hitting Partner
Become a hitting partner is very underrated. It is often the stepping stone for students to begin their pro-tennis career. You don’t need to be a standout player, but you do need to be quick and responsive. Many hitting partners also go on to become tennis coaches. Pro hitting partners, such as Jermaine Jenkins often make in excess of $50,000 a year, and get travel expenses paid too. Don’t forget the possibility of getting endorsements along with this too. A lot of the bigger tennis clubs, like to provide hitting partners as one of their services – this is a great way to get your foot in the door.
Tennis Stringer
Becoming a tennis stringer is an ideal job for a student – many start work in tennis shops. This can lead to some excellent opportunities – especially if you go on to stringing rackets for pro players. Take Ron Yu and Nate Ferguson – they run a service called Priority One, stringing rackets for the best, including the great Roger Federer. He reportedly pays tens of thousands dollars for a gold stringing service for his tournaments. It is a highly prized skill that can make all the difference in winning.
There are some excellent opportunities in tennis for students and those who have recently graduated. You can make a decent salary and learn some fantastic new skills.
